The ABC has quietly begun scrubbing its Gaza "journalists killed" coverage as evidence mounts that many of those named were in fact operatives of Hamas and other terrorist groups in the strip.

In a statement provided to Rebel News, and in an editor's note dated October 2 now visible on some articles on the public broadcaster's website, the ABC says 22 names have so far been removed. It is deferring the decision to a list maintained by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

But timing is everything. Rebel News had already contacted the ABC on September 26, after it became clear the broadcaster had listed multiple terrorists as journalists in articles published on its website. That coincided with the BBC launching an internal review after an investigation found it too had relied on news provided by terrorists linked to Hamas.

At the time, the ABC's response was brief: "The ABC is aware of the reports. Nothing further to add at this time." Until today, no correction appeared on its website.

🔍It’s time, 170 terrorists who posed as journalists - EXPOSED.

For the full list of journalists: https://t.co/5x285xTQBo

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 1, 2026

What has changed is the IDF. It has launched a public website containing dossiers on up to 170 terrorists "who posed as journalists," complete with documents and photographs relating to their terror activity. In an accompanying press conference, the IDF identified the ABC among the media organisations that amplified these individuals and stories about them in their coverage.

Today, we revealed the truth behind these so-called “journalists”. pic.twitter.com/If26G8ZD1b

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 1, 2026

So while the ABC has begun scrubbing names by deferring to the CPJ, that information was available well before today. The ABC's statement provided to Rebel News says as much:

"The ABC has accurately reported the data provided by the Committee to Protect Journalists. Following the CPJ publishing updated statistics on the number of journalists killed in the Middle East since 7 October 2023 the ABC is updating graphics and content to reflect the revised information.

We have published an editor's note on the relevant content: Subsequent to publication, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) released a report removing 22 names from a list of journalists killed in the Middle East since October 7 2023. Those names have been removed from a graph contained in this story. According to the CPJ, the number of journalists killed in the Middle East as of September 25 2026 is 247."

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The CPJ's revised figures are dated September 25. The ABC's notes went up a week later.

And they don't go far enough. Checked live on Friday, the removals described in those notes are incomplete. The ABC pages still name people the IDF dossiers allege held military roles. They also name people the CPJ had already removed for combat engagement, including names Rebel News previously flagged. Out of the 247 ABC is attributing to a CPJ list there are 150 + names that are listed in connection with evidence and photographs for involvement in October 7th, terrorism, murder and rape. 

Deferring to the CPJ is also a weak substitute for accountability from a taxpayer-funded broadcaster that receives more than a billion dollars a year. Critics say the CPJ applied a very wide definition of "journalist," counted staff from outlets affiliated with Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and only cut some names in volume after the armed groups' own obituaries forced the issue. It is seen as a very sympathetic organisation when it comes to investigating Hamas and other terrorist groups.

That is who the ABC is leaning on. Not its own independent review. Not follow-up reporting that would have told Australians about a substantial development in the public interest. For years it carried information from terrorist-linked individuals without proper journalistic scrutiny, and when evidence shows otherwise it defers responsibility to the same groups that fed them misinformation in the first place.